The Lawless Ones | AdventAI

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Jul 13, 1904

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 30, No. 28.

The Lawless Ones.

—Prof. Edgar L. Larkin, of Mt. Lowe Observatory, Cal., in a recent article says—

As large as the visible universe may be, everything is seen to be ruled by vast laws except MAN. The writer, in many years of research, is unable to detect a trace of law ruling human beings, whether singly or collected into nations. The best man in a neighborhood—a philanthropist, a real benefit to the community, one whom the people find it almost impossible to dispense with—is more liable to die an untimely death than his near neighbor, who may be a moral leper, whose very presence is withering. Kings will order thousands of men into the very jaws of death without a twinge of conscience. To the writer it is an insoluble question why men obey. Why will the millions march to the cannon’s mouth on order of any blood-loving monarch?

He deplores the war spirit, the display of battles in moving pictures at theaters, before women and children. He points out what the effect of this must be upon the coming generation. He continues:—

In looking over the past ages of the evolution of human beings, nothing more horrible has appeared than moving war scenes in the theaters of the world. This horror is new and can not fail of having telling effect. Is it possible that the fighting instinct is rapidly increase? Is the race to retrograde, and is man to be a failure? One can not fail having pessimistic ideas, even tho a life-long optimist, when thinking of the horrors now spreading over the “civilized” world. And is there no hope for man? Has anything more dreadful than these real war scenes appeared?

If Professor Larkin would but read Joel 3:9-12 and Jeremiah 25 he would there find portrayed the very things he so deeply deplores. Divine Inspiration has revealed what is sure to come. Man has separated from the God of peace and righteousness; hence he is a creature of strife. If the professor would know the cause let him read of the demon spirits which are stirring to war and bloodshed the kings of earth whose hearts are not subject to the law of God; he will find it in Rev. 16:13, 14. Yet there is hope in Jesus Christ, the coming King of righteousness and peace. Before His presence all sin and all identified with sin will perish, and then the good of all ages will reign forever knowing no law save love.